Railroad-crossing.



L. L. WARE.

RAILROAD CROSSING.

APPLlcATloN FILED Dsc.4. 1915.

Patented J ulyll, 1916.

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RAILROAD CROSSING.

APPLICATION man nEc.4. 1915.

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NETE@ STATES PATENT GFFICE.

LUTHER L. WARE, OF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-THIRD T0 JOSEPH PETER STICH, OF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

RAILROAD-CROSSING.

Application filed December 4, 1915.

T0 all whom 'it may concern.' n

Be it known that I, LUTHER L. WARE,

a citizen of the United States, residing atv Terre Haute, in the county of Vigo and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Crossings, of which the following is a speeication.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in railway crossings and the primary object ofthe invention is to provide a crossing with vertically movable bridge rails or blocks adapted to be moved to fill the gap between the rails at the crossing to permit of the wheels of the rolling stock traveling upon a smooth unbroken surface and thus overcome the liability of danger of injury to the crossing rails or to the wheels of the rolling stock as well as relieving the rolling stock from the shock and jar incident to the wheels passing between the gaps at a crossing.

A further object of the invention is to provide means to move the bridge railsor blocks to a position to form continuous rails and return them to'their initial position to permit of a train passing in the opposite direction.

With the above and other objects in view, the improvement resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure l is a top plan view of a railway crossing constructed in accordance with the present invention, parts being broken away and parts being shown in section, Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the same, taken below the rails of the crossing and approximately on the line 2 2 of Fig. 4, Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view approximately on the line 8 3 of Fig. 5, Fig. 4 is a sectional view approximately on the line 4--4` of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a sectional view approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, Fig. 6 is a detail enlarged vertical longitudinal section approximately ont-he line 6-6 of Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a sectional view approximately on the line 7-7 o-f Fig. 2, and Fig. 8 is a sectional view approximately on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates a railway crossing of the conventional form comprising two intersecting tracks 2 and 3 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1ere.

Serial No. 65,083.

tegrally formed with the main rails 3L-3a' o f the track 3. The main rails Qb--Qb and ib-3b of the crossing proper have their ends spaced from the respective rails 2a, 3L of the main tracks and the short or guard rails QC-Qc and 3C c ofthe crossing are arranged at right angles to each other and are spaced from the rails 2]- b and 3b-3b. Short guard rails 21-42 and Bd-Sd are formed at the ends of the main crossing rails 2b-2b and {iL-8b, the said short guard rails being spaced from the rails ila-3a of the respective tracks 2 and 3, the said guard rails of course extending in the direction of the rails of the main tracks.

The main crossing rails 2b-3b, the guard rails 22-3" of the crossing, the intersecting corners of the rails 2a and 3a as well as a portion of the short guard rails 2d3d rest upon and are secured to flat square metallic plate 4. This plate 4 is of a desired strength to support the rails and to `withstand the weight of the rolling stock passing thereover, and the said plate, upon its inner face 1s reinforced by metallic ribs 5. The plate 4 provides a closure for the upper and open end of a square preferably metallic box 6 which is embedded in the ground at the crossing and which serves as a receptacle for the operating mechanisms for the bridge blocks hereinafter to be referred to. The box or receptacle 6 is provided with a continuous partition 7 spaced a suitable distance from its sides or flanges which divides the said box or receptacle into a central cornpargment 8 and side or end compartments Journaled in suitable bearings arranged centrally of the compartment 8 and centrally with respect to the plate 4 is a vertically disposed shaft 10 which has its central portion preferably square in cross section. Secured tothe shaft 10, preferably adjacent the upper portion thereof is an eye member 11 having secured `thereto a rod 12 that passes through suitable openings in one of the partition members as well as through one of the sides of the box and has its free end connected to the bell crank lever 13, the said lever being also provided with 'an angularly arranged rod 14 that is connected with a pivoted lever 15 which may be provided upon a switch stand or arranged at any desired point a distance from the crossing, and the lever 15 is adapted to be actuated to partially revolve the shaft 10 in either of two directions. Centrally secured to the shaft 10 is a plurality of rocker or actuating arms, four in number, one pair indicated by the numerals 16 and 16L being disposedl at a right angle to the remaining pair 17 and 17a. To the opposite ends of the rocker arms 16 and 17 are loosely connected rods 18-18 and 19-19 respectively, the rods 18 extending in opposite directions from each other, as are also the rods 1 9, the said rods 19 being arranged at a right angle with respect to the plane of the rods 18. r[he rods 18 and 19 each comprise a pair of members connected in such a manner (as for instance by turnbuclrles 20) to provide for the longitudinal adjustment of the same. The rods pass through suitable openings in the opposite walls of the partition 7 and may rest upon the Walls provided by the said openings, the ends of the said rods entering the end compartments 9. Each of the compartments 9 is approximately centrally provided with a horizontally disposed shelf 21 to which is centrally pivotally connected, as at 22, a rocker plate 23 which has one of its ends loosely connected, as at 24, with the respective rods 18 and 19 and which has its opposite end arranged concentric of its pivot with one of its corners notched, as at 25.

Journaled in suitable bearings 26 secured to or formed with the outer face of the angular partition members 7 are longitudinally extending shafts 27. Each of these shafts has its ends provided with a spool y 28 around which is wound a flexible member 29, and the free end of each of these members is secured to the lower portion or end of a vertically movable rail block 30. Each of the blocks 30 is arranged at one of the gaps between the rails 2EL and 3b and the rails 3a and 2", and the cover plate 4 is provided with suitable openings to permit of the vertical movement of the said block. Ahe blocks are of a suflicient weight to normally drop by gravity within the box or receptacle 6 and each of the blocks hasits opposite sides provided with ribs 31 that are received in suitable grooves 32 provided in oppositely disposed guide members 33 provided for this purpose.

Each of the shafts 27 is provided with a lug or finger 34 that lies in a position to be contacted by the notched corner 25 of the respective rocker plates 23. The rocker plates contacting with the fingers 34 will revolve the shafts 27 approximately onefourth of a revolution, suflicient to wind the cables to project the blocks 30 to fill the gap in the corners of the crossing. As the rocker plates are swung in opposite directions, it will'be apparent that four of the blocks 30 ing the upward movement of the blocks 30,

so that the said blocks cannot be elevated above the tread surface of the rails.

The rocker arms 16a and 17a have their ends provided with pivoted rods 35 and 36 respectively, the rods 36 extending in opposite directions toward two of the opposite walls of the partitions 7 and passed through suitable openings in the said walls, while the rods 36 also extend in opposite directions from each other and at right angles with respect to the plane of the rods 35. The rods 36 also pass through suitable openings in the remaining two'and oppositely disposed walls of the partition 6, entering two of the end compartments 9 of the structure. These rods 35 and 36 each comprise a pair of longitudinally adjustable members and are held connected by turnbuckles 37.

The numerals 38 designate pivot members which pass through the shelves 21 and are received in suitable openings in the bottom wall of the box or receptacle and a triple lever 39 is centrally connected one with each of the pivots 38. The rods 35 and 3G have their ends each connected with the central arm of one of the triple levers 39, while oppositely extending rods 40 and 41 are connected to the ends of the remaining arms of said lever. These rods 40-41 have their ends pivotally secured, as at 42, to a bracket member 43 provided vupon the inner end of a horizontally disposed sliding block 44. Guides 45 are provided for each of the blocks, the said guides being flanged to receive the upper face of the opposite corners of said blocks. One of the blocks 44 is disposed adjacent to the side of each of the rail blocks 30 and is adapted to be moved beneath the said rail blocks to support the same when the rail blocks are in their elevated position, but when the said blocks are not in such supporting position, the ends of the same are disposed a suitable distance away from the sides of the blocks to permit of a certain amount of free movement of the blocks to allow the rail blocks to be elevated before the supporting blocks are disposed therebeneath. The arrangement is such that the supporting blocks will be moved toward the rail filler blocks only when the said blocks are in their elevated positions and moved away from said blocks when the rail filler blocks are in their lowered positions, the filler blocks actuated by the rods 35 moving in the same direction as the rods 18 which actuate the rail filler blocks 30 between the rails 3a and 3b, while the supporting blocks actuated by the rods 36 move in the same direction and simultaneously with the rods 19. This operation is permitted by the pivotal connection of the rocker plates 23, whereby the operating surfaces of the said plates will engage with the lug or finger 34 of two of the shafts 27 to revolve the said shafts and consequently Wind the cables upon the drums connected to the said shafts before the supporting blocks have been moved to engage beneath the rail blocks. The cables upon the remaining shafts 27 will unwind, so that when the supporting blocks for the said rail blocks are drawn from underneath the rail blocks, the said rail blocks will drop by gravity and the supporting blocks will be moved a distance away from the rear blocks sufficient to permit of the raising of the rail blocks to fill the gaps at the crossing before the supporting blocks are again brought beneath the said rail blocks.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the simplicity of the device, as well as the advantages thereof will, it is thought, be perfectly apparent to those skilled in the art to which such invention appertains without further detailed description.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

l. In a railway crossing, gravity rail filler blocks normally disposed below the rails, flexible elements connected with `the blocks, means for actuating the elements to raise the blocks to fill the gaps between the rails, and means for supporting the blocks in such position.

2. In a railway crossing, gravity blocks at the corners thereof disposed normally below the rails, flexible elements connected with the blocks, mechanism for winding the elements for elevating the blocks to fill the gaps between the rails, and means for supporting the blocks in such position.

3. In a railway crossing, gravity filler blocks at the corners thereof disposed normally below the tread surface of the rails, flexible elements connected with the blocks, mechanism for winding the elements to elevate the blocks, sliding means for supporting the blocks, and mechanism for actuating the said means to bring the same beneath the blocks when the blocks are elevated.

4. In a railway crossing, gravity filler blocks at the corners thereof disposed normally below the tread surface of the rails, flexible elements connected with the blocks,

-mechanism for winding the elements to elefor moving the same from beneath the blocks to permit of the gravitating of the blocks to their initial position.

5. In a railway crossing, gravity rail filler blocks in the gaps atthe corners thereof, one series being elevated to close one of the tracks, flexible elements connected with all of the blocks, shafts having spools upon and means for holding the elevated blocks in such position.

6. In a railway crossing, gravity filler blocks in the gaps at the corners thereof, a flexible element connected with each ofthe blocks, shafts having spools upon which the elements are wound, and means for simultaneously rotating the shafts to wind certain of the flexible elements to elevate certain of the blocks and fill the gaps and to permit of the gravitation of the remaining blocks below the heads of the rails, supporting blocks for each of the filler blocks, guides for the supporting blocks, and means actuated simultaneously with the rotation of the shafts for sliding certain of the supporting blocks beneath the elevated filler blocks to move the remaining supporting blocks out of engagement with the remaining filler blocks.

7 In a railway crossing, gravity filler blocks inthe gaps at the corners thereof, guide members comprising stops for limiting the movement of the blocks in an upward direction, a shaft for each pair of oppositely disposed blocks, spools upon each of the shafts, a flexible element upon each of the spools and connected with the respective blocks, mechanism for actuating the shafts to wind certain of the flexible elements thereon to elevate certain of the blocks to fill certain of the gaps at the crossing and to unwind the remainder of the flexible elements to permit of the gravitation of the remaining filler blocks, horizontally disposed slidable supporting blocks for each of the filler blocks, guide members for the supporting blocks, means for actuating the supporting blocks to bring certain of the same beneath the elevated filler blocks and to move the remainder out of engagement with the other filler blocks, and means for permitting the elevation of certain filler blocks before the supporting blocks are arranged therebeneath.

8. In a railway crossing, a closed box arranged beneath the crossing and supporting the crossing rails, a shaft journaled in the box, means for rotating the shaft in one of two directions, rail filler blocks having one ofb their ends arranged in openings in the top of the box and disposed in the gaps at the corners of the crossing, slidable supporting blocks for the filler blocks, means including mechanism connected with the corner blocks of the shaft for elevating certain of the blocks to iill the gaps of the crossing when the shaft is rotated in one direction, and for permitting the gravitation of the rcmaining blocks below the heads of the rails, and means including mechanism connected with the supporting blocks and actuated b v the movement of the shaft for sliding said blocks beneath the elevated filler blocks away from the depressed filler blocks.

9. In a railway crossing, a. box having a closure plate arranged beneath the crossing and supporting the rails of the crossing, a vertically disposed shaft in the box, throw means for turning the shaft in two directions, angularly disposed rocker arms upon the shaft, gravity rail filler blocks in the gaps at the corners of the crossing and guided in openings in the top plate of the box, longitudinally adjustable rods connected with the opposite ends of the rocker arms, mechanism connected with certain of the rods and with the. blocks fo-r elevating certain of the blocks to close the gaps when the shaft is rotated in one direction, and to permit of the gravitation of the remaining blocks, slidable supports for the elevated blocks, means including mechanism connected with the remain# ing rods of the remaining rocker arms for moving the supports between the elevated Ablocks and for moving the other supports out of engagement with the depressed blocks.

l0. In a railway crossing, a box having a closure plate arranged beneath the crossing and supporting the rails of the crossing, a shaft journaled in the box, means for rotating the shaft in either of two directions, rocker arms connected with the shaft, adjustable rods connected with the rocker arm, gravity rail filler blocks in the gaps at the corners of the crossing guided in openings in the top of the box, shafts ournaled in bearings in the box, spoolsupon the shafts, flexible elements wound upon the spools, and one of each of said elements connected with one of the gravity blocks, means between the rods and shafts for turning the latter when the first mentioned shaft is turned to wind certain of the flexible elements upon certain of the spools to elevate certain of the blocks to fill certain of the gaps to unwind the remaining flexible elements to permit of the gravitation of the blocks connected therewith, slidable supports for the blocks, mechanism connected with the supports and actuated by the remaining rods of the remaining rocker arms for moving certain of the supports beneath the elevated blocks and for moving the remaining supports from beneath the remaining blocks.

1l. In a railway crossing, a closed box beneath the crossing, a shaft journaled in the box, turning means for the shaft, angularly arranged rocker arms upon the shaft, adjustable rods for the rocker arms, gravity rail filler blocks in the gaps at the corners of the crossing and guided through openings in the top of the box, shafts journaled in bearings in the box, spools on the shafts, iiexible elements wound on the spools and connected one to each of the blocks, an offset finger on each ofthe shafts, a centrally pivoted rocker plate beneath each of the fingers and arranged to contact with the said fingers, a pivotal connection between each of the plates and certain of the rods, a slidable supporting member for each of the filler blocks arranged to underlie the said respective blocks when the same are elevated to fill the gaps in the rails, va pivoted rod for each of the sliding members, a centrally pivoted triple lever connecting the ends of the oppositely extending rods, and a pivotal connection between the said levers and the remaining rods carried by the rocker arms.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LUTHER L. IVARE.

Witnesses:

PHILIP J. GEROLD, J. A. CALLAI-IAN.

Copies vof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

